As parts of measures aimed at bridging the learning gaps in English and Mathematics across primary schools in the Cross River State, the state Commissioner for Education, Professor Stephen Odey, has disclosed that the state government, in collaboration with the World Bank’s Project Hope Education, has commenced an intensive training programme for teachers in the stat,
Odey, who made this disclosure while addressing trainees at a three-day workshop, said the state government is dedicated to investing in continuous staff training to enhance manpower and improve educational outcomes, according to a statement he released on Sunday, 2 November, 2025.
The workshop, themed “Enhancing Pedagogical Practices for Effective Teaching and Learning of English and Mathematics in Primary Schools,” holds simultaneously from October 29 to 31, 2025, at the Teachers’ Continuous Training Institute in Biase and in centres in Ikom and Ogoja.
The decentralised approach allowed a large number of primary school teachers from all three senatorial districts to participate in the high-level training.
“This programme is a professional training development circle put together by His Excellency, Senator Bassey Otu’s People-First mantra and commitment to teacher professional training”, Odey stated, just as he also stressed that the goal is to develop “competent and resourceful faculty members” who can deliver quality teaching.
The Commissioner, who cited alarming national research showing that an estimated 45.8 million children aged 5-14 years are unable to read and understand a simple text, corresponding to an overall learning deprivation rate of 76 per cent nationwide, added that this collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Board and the World Bank aims to tackle both policy constraints and service delivery challenges in basic education.
In her own remarks at the workshop, the Chairperson of the Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board, Fidelia Okpo-Ene, praised the Teachers Continuous Training Institute for its dedication and modern facilities, announcing a partnership between SUBEB and TCTI to continuously develop teachers’ classroom pedagogy.
The Director-General of TCTI and a former World Bank Consultant, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, said the workshop was designed to add “immeasurable value to teaching and learning” to strengthen basic and foundational education.
Adedoja commended Otu for “taking the best steps for teachers’ development methods” and thanked the World Bank for its “deliberate efforts” to foster professional knowledge advancement.
A Senior Education Specialist at the World Bank’s Abuja office, Dr Adekunle Adekola, expressed enthusiasm for the high-level collaboration, stating that Otu is one of the few governors who truly understands that the Hope Education project is key to economic development in Nigeria.
